the New York Times declined an invitation to have lunch with the president and "about a dozen" other reporters at the White House today. Why?

The Obama administration wanted to talk to reporters about the problems the press has with the way they've been treated by 44's crew...off the record. Which is, in and of itself, a certain stripe of slight. Why not be transparent about your press strategy? They're apparently afraid of something, and rather than kowtow to their needs like the rest of the crowd -- who're no doubt, among other possible motivations, just excited to have lunch with the president -- the New York Times said no.